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Example Questions That Can Be Answered Using This FAQ

I’ve heard there are only 7 (or 5, 20, 36…) basic plots (or themes) in all of literature. What are they?

People often say that there are only a certain number of basic plots in all of literature, and that any story is really just a variation on theseplots. Depending on how detailed they want to make a "basic" plot, different writers have offered a variety of solutions. Here are some ofthe ones we’ve found:

1 Plot | 3 Plots | 7 Plots | 20 Plots | 36 Plots

1 Plot:

Attempts to find the number of basic plots in literature cannot be resolved any more tightly than to describe a single basic plot. Foster-Harris claims that all plots stem from conflict. He describes this in terms of what the main character feels: "I have an inner conflict ofemotions, feelings.... What, in any case, can I do to resolve the inner problems?" (p. 30-31) This is in accord with the canonical view thatthe basic elements of plot revolve around a problem dealt with in sequence: "Exposition - Rising Action - Climax - Falling Action -Denouement". (Such description of plot can be found in many places, including: Holman, C. Hugh and William Harmon. A Handbook toLiterature. 6th ed. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co, 1992.) Foster-Harris’ main argument is for 3 Plots (which are contained within thisone), described below.

3 Plots:

Foster-Harris. The Basic Patterns of Plot. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1959. Foster-Harris contends that there are threebasic patterns of plot (p. 66):

"’Type A, happy ending’"; Foster-Harris argues that the "Type A" pattern results when the central character (which he calls the"I-nitial" character) makes a sacrifice (a decision that seems logically "wrong") for the sake of another.

1.

"’Type B, unhappy ending’"; this pattern follows when the "I-nitial" character does what seems logically "right" and thus fails tomake the needed sacrifice.

2.

"’Type C,’ the literary plot, in which, no matter whether we start from the happy or the unhappy fork, proceeding backwards wearrive inevitably at the question, where we stop to wail." This pattern requires more explanation (Foster-Harris devotes a chapterto the literary plot.) In short, the "literary plot" is one that does not hinge upon decision, but fate; in it, the critical event takes placeat the beginning of the story rather than the end. What follows from that event is inevitable, often tragedy. (This in fact coincideswith the classical Greek notion of tragedy, which is that such events are fated and inexorable.)

3.

7 Plots

7 basic plots as remembered from second grade by IPL volunteer librarian Jessamyn West:

[wo]man vs. nature1.[wo]man vs. [wo]man2.[wo]man vs. the environment3.[wo]man vs. machines/technology4.[wo]man vs. the supernatural5.[wo]man vs. self6.[wo]man vs. god/religion7.

20 Plots:

Tobias, Ronald B. 20 Master Plots. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books, 1993. (ISBN 0-89879-595-8)This book proposes twenty basic plots:

Quest1.Adventure2.Pursuit3.Rescue4.Escape5.

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Revenge6.The Riddle7.Rivalry8.Underdog9.Temptation10.Metamorphosis11.Transformation12.Maturation13.Love14.Forbidden Love15.Sacrifice16.Discovery17.Wretched Excess18.Ascension19.Descension.20.

36 Plots

Polti, Georges. The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. trans. Lucille Ray.

Polti claims to be trying to reconstruct the 36 plots that Goethe alleges someone named [Carlo] Gozzi came up with. (In the following list,the words in parentheses are our annotations to try to explain some of the less helpful titles.):

Supplication (in which the Supplicant must beg something from Power in authority)1.Deliverance2.Crime Pursued by Vengeance3.Vengeance taken for kindred upon kindred4.Pursuit5.Disaster6.Falling Prey to Cruelty of Misfortune7.Revolt8.Daring Enterprise9.Abduction10.The Enigma (temptation or a riddle)11.Obtaining12.Enmity of Kinsmen13.Rivalry of Kinsmen14.Murderous Adultery15.Madness16.Fatal Imprudence17.Involuntary Crimes of Love (example: discovery that one has married one’s mother, sister, etc.)18.Slaying of a Kinsman Unrecognized19.Self-Sacrificing for an Ideal20.Self-Sacrifice for Kindred21.All Sacrificed for Passion22.Necessity of Sacrificing Loved Ones23.Rivalry of Superior and Inferior24.Adultery25.Crimes of Love26.Discovery of the Dishonor of a Loved One27.Obstacles to Love28.An Enemy Loved29.Ambition30.Conflict with a God31.Mistaken Jealousy32.Erroneous Judgement33.Remorse34.Recovery of a Lost One35.Loss of Loved Ones.36.

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